Friday, May 27, 2011

Kantan Chamoru: Apu Magi (JD Crutch)

It's been said that one of the best helps in learning a language is listening to songs in the language. I think this is a good idea, the only problem with it is that in Chamorro, many of the singers aren't the easiest to understand. So, here are the lyrics to one of my favorites with chords and a tranlsation:

Apo' Mågi
as J.D. "Crutch"

[G]
Ai, siña ti un tungo', taiguhi tiningo' put hågu,
(Oh,  you might not have known, I thought that way of you,)
[G]                                               [D]
ya ti hu achakka' hao yanggen un dingu.
(and I don't blame you if you leave.) 
[D]
Lao hu li'e' hao gi painge, ya un lågo' gi matå-mu,
(But I saw you last night, with a tear in your eye,) 
[D]   [D7]                                     [G]
ya ha påcha yo' mås ki pa bai hu sångan.
(and it touched me more than I'll say.) 
[G]
Lao ti hu hongge i che'lu-hu, na po un na'puti yo' nai på'go,
(But I don't believe, my sister, that you're going to hurt me now,)
[G]        [G7]                             [C]
ni guåhu gagaige mågåhet gi fi'on-mu
(with me truly being there by your side.)

Chrous:
[C]   [D]            [G]
Apo' mågi gi apagå'-hu, 
(Lean here on my shoulder,)
[G]            [Em]                   [C]
ya bai hu sångåni hao ni estoriå-hu,
(and I'll tell you my story,)
[C]   [D]    [G] [G7]
sa' hågu ya-hu.
(because I love you.)
[G7] [C]   [D]    [G]
Apo' mågi gi apagå'-hu, 
(Lean here on my shoulder,)
[G]            [Em]                    [C]
ya bai hu sångåni hao ni estoriå-hu,
(and I'll tell you my story,) 
[C]   [D]    [G]
sa' hågu ya-hu.
(because I love you.)

[G]                                                                                [D]
Ai, siña ti un hongge na i korason-hu kumåkåti, ai, pot hågu.
(Oh, you might not believe that my heart is crying, oh, for you.)
[D]
Ai, lao hågu i che'lu-hu, ai, i mågåhet ti un hahasso,
(Oh, but you my sister, oh, you don't remember the truth,)
[D]     [D7]                               [G]
na pot hågu yo' nai neni na måfåtto.
(that it's for you that I've come.) 
[G]
Lao un na'klåru giya guåhu yan mågåhet na i ti ya-mu,
(But you've made it clear to me, and you don't like the truth.)
[G]         [G7]                                          [C]
ya bai hu hånao yanggen nå'ån-hu na ti hu hungok.
(and I'll go if I don't hear my name.)
 
Chorus (2x)

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Pålåbran 05/12/2011: Åpmam

Åpmam (UP-mam): Ago, past, gone, awhile, for sometime, since olden times.

Note: The above definition is from Topping's dictionary, but another way to view this word is as "long time."

Uses:
"Åpmam na tiempo." = "A long time ago."
"Ti åpmam yo' tåtte." = "I'll be back soon (not long)."
"Ti åpmam yo' guatu." = "I'll be there soon." / "I won't be long getting there."
"Åpmam ti umali'e' hit." = "We haven't seen each other for a long time." / "Long time no see."
"Ti åpmam bai yute'." = "I'll throw it away soon."

Monday, May 9, 2011

Pålåbran 05/09/2011: Låkse

Låkse (LUCK-see): Sew, stitch.

Uses:
"Ya-ña manlåkse si Rosa." = "Rosa likes to sew."
"Ha låkse i nuebu na chininå-hu." = "She sewed my new shirt."
"Kao hågu lumåkse i bestidu?" = "Were you the one that sewed the dress."